Farmers across the country received more than $17 billion in federal crop insurance payouts after last year’s drought. A report released Tuesday by an environmental group blames farmers for not doing enough to shield the soil against the heat.

The Urbana Free Library's board met Tuesday night to discuss for the first time an early separation agreement with the library’s executive director. It met in closed session with the library’s attorney, and is still working on the agreement.

Army Pvt. Chelsea Manning is willing to pay for estrogen treatments that would lead to breast development and other female characteristics, the lawyer for the former Bradley Manning tells The Associated Press.